A tragedy unfolded in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday evening when two eight-year-old girls lost their lives after lightning struck a tree under which they had taken shelter. The incident has once again drawn attention to the deadly weather conditions gripping parts of the state.
The incident: What happened in Baidora village
The two girls, identified as Nibiya and Tanvi Sahu, died after lightning struck the tree they had taken cover under during a sudden spell of thunderstorms and gusty winds in Baidora village.
According to police, the incident took place between 7 pm and 7.30 pm. The girls, like most children their age, were likely unaware of the danger a large tree poses during a lightning storm. What was meant to be a moment of shelter turned into a fatal trap within seconds.
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The bodies were recovered from the spot. Police reached the village shortly after being informed and began proceedings. The grief-stricken families of both girls are being provided support by local authorities.
Storm hits Niwari Tehsil hard
The weather took a violent turn specifically in the Niwari tehsil of Tikamgarh district, where several villages were hit by hailstorms and intense winds. Locals described the storm as sudden and fierce, giving residents little time to reach safer ground.
The Baidora village incident was not an isolated weather event. The entire belt covering northern Madhya Pradesh was battered by rough conditions on Tuesday.
MP’s split weather: Storms in the north, heatwave in the west
The fatal strike came amid extreme weather volatility across Madhya Pradesh, where northern districts are battling severe storms while western and central regions are enduring a blistering heatwave.
Ratlam emerged as the hottest spot in the state, recording a maximum temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius, while Gwalior recorded 43.1 degrees Celsius and Jabalpur touched 41.6 degrees Celsius. Pachmarhi offered the only relief, with a high of 35.8 degrees Celsius.
Balaghat also reported high-velocity winds reaching up to 60 kilometres per hour.
More storms expected: Met department issues warning
The Weather Centre in Bhopal has issued an urgent forecast for the night hours, predicting that atmospheric instability will continue. Residents in Morena and Bhind have been warned of moderate thunderstorms.
Light thunderstorms with lightning are also likely to persist over Tikamgarh, north Gwalior, Sagar, Damoh, and north Chhatarpur, including the tourist destination of Khajuraho.
Experts suggest that the state is currently experiencing clashes between dry heat from the west and moisture-laden winds, leading to localised convective activity.